Sardou's Cleopatra — page 86: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. 71 “Tras,” he said to her one day, “what are the queen’s wishes? How long is it her will that I am to remain here ?”’ The girl turned pale, and faltered: “I—TI cannot tell.” “You cannot tell?” he exclaimed, in surprise. “But, surely, you are in her confidence ?” “In her confidence—yes—but, she has not said. Oh! she iu “Well, speak.” Iras saw that at last the time had come. But, what could she say? If she told him the whole truth, would he consent to receive his life at her hands? Would he not consider himself still bound by his oath? No! that would be too terri- ble, that she could not risk. “You must understand, Pharon,” she said, at last, “that, after—after what occurred, it would be impossible for you to remain in Egypt. It is the queen’s commands,” she went on more boldly, “that you leave this land forever, and never again appear in her presence.” For a moment, he made no answer, and then he said, quietly : “The queen relented. Whatever the queen’s (E(0) : EComicbooks